Hinge-joint for seating.



No. 707,547. Patented Aug. 26, I902.

. F. 8. BROOKE.

HINGE JOINT FOR SEATING.

(Application flied May 5, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet l.

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No. 707,547. Pate nted Aug. 26, mm.

F. s. BROOKE.

HINGE JOINT FUR SEATING.

(Application filed may 5, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Shaets$heet 2.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FINLEY S. BROOKE, OF CINCINNATI, OIIIO.

HINGE-JOINTFOR SEATING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,547, dated August26, 1902 Application filed May 5, 1902. Serial No. 105,950. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,'FINLEY S. BROOKE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of I'Iamilton andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHinge-Joints for Seating, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has for its object improved means for lessening thefriction between the bearingfaces of the members of a hingejoint forseating and also to provide means for the cushioning of the seat-bracketat the end of its movement in either direction in raising and droppingthe seat; and it relates particularly to those hinge-joints for seatingof all kinds in which antifriction ball-bearings are employed.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of partsby'which the said objects and certain other objects are attained, ashereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure I is a side elevation of my improved hinge-joint for seatingapplied to an end standard. Fig. II is an axial section thereof, takenon the line II II, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig.III is a side elevation of the upper end of the seat-standard. Fig. IVis a side elevation of the seatbracket. Fig. V is a View of the outerfixed member of the hinge-joint looking at the inner side thereof. Fig.VI is a view of the inner movable member of the hinge-joint looking atthe outer side thereof. Fig. VII is a side elevation of hinge-jointapplied to an intermediate seat-standard, showing a modification. Fig.VIII is a vertical section thereof, taken on the line VIII VIII, Fig.VII, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. IX is a View of theseat-bracket looking at the inner side thereof, showing the outermovable member of the hinge-joint formed thereon. Fig. X is a sideelevation of the upper end of the intermediate seat-standard, showingthe inner fixed member of the hingejoint formed thereon. Fig. XI is avertical I to prevent it rotating.

resents the upper end of an end seat standard or support formed integralwith a serrated bolt hole or opening 1 and an annular groove 1surrounding the bolt-hole on the outer side of the seat-standard,providing an annular seat I for the head 2 of a securing-bolt 2, havinga serrated neck 2 fitting in the serrated bolt-hole l, and thus lockingthe bolt The inner side of the standard 1 has formed integral therewitha hollow boss 1, surrounding the bolt-hole 1 and having an inner convexpart 1 and a cylindrical outer part 1. 1 represents segmental openingson opposite sides of the hollow boss, whereby access may be gained tothe hinge-joint for the purpose of lubricating it. On the seat-standard,above the hollow boss, is formed a stop-lug 1 and on the standard,beneath the hollow boss, is formed a recessed lug 1". 3 is aseat-bracket constructed with a circular housing 3", having a Web 3 Thisweb is formed on its inner side with a concave socket 3, receiving andfitting the inner convex part 1 of the hollow boss 1, and with segmentalopenings 3 3 on opposite sides of the socket 3, the stop-lug 1projecting into the segmental opening 3 for restricting the movement ofthe seat-bracket. The outer side of the Web of the housing is formedwith a thimble 3 and an annular shoulder or seat 3 having a ret-aininglug 3. t is the movable inner member of the hinge-joint in the form of acircular disk or plate located within the housing and which is seatedagainst the thimble S and the annular shoulder 3 of the housing. Theinner member 4 is formed with a peripheral recess t, in which theretaininglug 3 projects to lock the inner member to the housing, so thatit will turn with the seatbracket. The inner member is also formed witha central opening 4 into which the cylindrical part 1 of the hollow boss1 projects, and a circular convex rib 4, fitting in the annular spacebetween the thimble 3* and the annular shoulder 3 On the outer sidebearing-face of the inner member are formed three radial ball grooves orraces i at equal dis tances apart. These ball-grooves are locatedbetween the central opening and the periphery of the inner member. 5 isthe fixed outer member of the hinge-joint in the form of a circular diskor plate located within the housing. This outer member has peripheralspacing-lugs 5, impinging against the wall 3 of the housing, and acentral opening 5 into which the cylindrical part 1 of the hollow boss 1extends. The spacing-lugs 5 are provided for the purpose of preventingthe wall of the housing from coming in contact with the whole peripheryor edge of the outer member. The inner side or bearing-face of the outermember is formed with three transverse balll.

inward and inclined so as to lead to the face of the bearing. These ends5 meet and overlap the outer ends of' the radial ball-grooves andprovide inclined planes for the balls to run on, so as to avoid a suddenstop or concussion, thus obviating the noise incident in quickly movingor throwing the seat in raising or lowering it, and at the same time theinclines serve as a force to throw the seat back and assist in making itautomatic in operation. The friction between the bearing-faces of themembers is lessened in my improved construction, so that in some instances the inclines may'be omitted but their presence is an advantage,as'stated. The transverse ball-grooves 5, formed with inturned ends 5and arranged as shown, provide extended raceways, while the saidtransverse ball-grooves and radial ball-grooves overlapping, as shown,the antifriction-balls are always retained at an equal distance apartand their whole bearing-surface utilized, so that there is noli-abilityof the balls flatten ing by working back and'forth in a single path, asby my construction the balls are moved radially as well ascircumferentially. The radial ball-grooves extend across the transverseball-grooves at such an angle that when the seat-bracket is turned theradial ball-grooves move obliquely to the transverse ball-grooves fromend to end of the latter. The outer side of the outer member of thehinge-joint is formed with a radial arm 5 having a projecting hook 5overlapping the wall 3* of the housing and directed inwardly, so'as toengage the recessed lug 1 on the seatstandard'to prevent the outermember of the The outer side of the outer'member is also formed with acentral square projection 5 having a concave spring-recess 5 ,surrounding the central open ing 5 and radial lugs 5 located at the sides of theprojection and extending beyond the same. Seating between these radiallugs 5 is a plate-spring 6, which may consist of one or more plates 6,each having a central bolthole 6", through which the screw-threaded end2 of the bolt 2 extends. 7 represents three antifriction-balls locatedat the crossings of the ball-grooves and adapted to interlock and travelfrom end to end of the ball-grooves as the hinge-joint is operated. 8 isa nut located on the bolt, which besides providing means in connectionwith the bolt for securing the parts of the hinge-joint together alsoseats on the plate-spring 6 and furnishes the means for regulating thepressure of the plate-spring on the hinge members, whereby the workingof the hinge-joint is controlled. In operation the balls traveling fromend to end of the grooves will run up the inclined ends of thetransverse grooves without leaving the abrupt ends of the radialgrooves, and will consequently spread the bearing-faces of the hingemembers apart and compress the plate-spring, so that when the seat israised or dropped, or vice versa, a cushioning effect is produced andthe usual noise and jarring on the movement of the seat from oneposition to another is avoided.

Referring to Figs. VII to X, inclusive, I show a modified form ofhinge-joint for seating, with which I combine my improved antifrictionball-bearing. 10 is the upper end of an intermediate seat standardformed with a bolt hole or opening 10, annular recesses 10 surroundingthe bolt-hole, and the inner members 10 of the hinge-joipt havingcircular concave bearing-faces 10, each provided with radial ballgrooves or races 10, arranged at equal distances apart and having openends at the periphery of the inner member. seat-standard beneath theinner members of the hinge-joint. 12 represents outwardly-taperinghollow bosses having reduced non-circular outer ends 12, seating in theannular resurrounding the ball-grooves 1 1 of each seatbracket is asegmental flange 14, having its ends located at opposite sides of astop-lug 10 so that each seat-bracket is restricted in its movement bythe ends of the flange impinging against the stop-lug. From the outerside of each outer member extends a tapering 1O represents stop-lugslocated on the represents saucer-shaped washers each havyieldingly.

ing a convex inner side seating against the concave end of a thimble andhaving a noncircular opening 15, which fits on the noncircular end 12 ofa hollow boss 12. resents plate-springs each having a central bolt-hole16, through which the securing bolt 13 extends, the head 13' bearing onone plate-spring, while the threaded end 13 of the bolt extends throughthe other platespring and receives a nut 18, which bears on the latter,so that by turning the nut in the proper direction the tension of theplatesprings can be regulated and the hinge members tightened to take upthe wear of the parts, which are held together by the bolt 17 representsthe antifrictionballs located in theball-groo'ves. The operation of thehinge in this modification is the same as in the principal form of theinvention first described.

As an auxiliary antifriction-bearing on the outer side of a seat-bracketI may also employ my arrangement of radial and transverse ball groovesor races, as shown at the righthand side of Fig. VIII, in which theouter end of the thimble let is formed with an inner member ll of ahinge-joint having a concave face lflprovided with radial ball groovesor races 14- and the saucer-shaped washer 15 is formed with an outermember 15 of a hinge-joint having a convex face 15, provided withtransverse ball grooves or races 15, 17 being the antifriction-ballsworking in the ball grooves.

Referring to Figs. XI to XV, inclusive, I show another modified form ofhinge-joint for seating with which I combine my improved antifrictionball-bearing. 20 is the upper end of an end seat-standard formed withthe inner member 20 of a hinge-joint having a bearing-face 20 acylindrical central recess 20 on its outer side, a central hollow boss20 on its inner side having a cylindrical inner part- 2O and a convexouter part 20 and radial ball grooves or races 20 in its bearing-face20, located between the hollow boss 20 and the outer edge of the innermemher. The outer member of the hinge-joint is in the form of anintermediate disk 21, having a central opening 21, fitting on thecylindrical inner part 20 of the central boss 20, an inner bearing-face21 having three transverse ball grooves or races 21, gradually inclinedtoward the face at their ends 21. 21 represents three pillars or postsextending horizontally from the outer side of the outer member of thehinge-joint and formed with cup-shaped recesses 21 at their ends. 22 isthe seat-bracket, formed with a housing 22 and a web 22", having acylindrical sleeve 22, provided with a non-circular bolt-hole 22 andextending across the web and fitting at its inner end in the cylindricalopening 20 of the hollow boss 20. Surrounding the 16 repsleeve 22 isconvex projection 22, having a concave annular recess 22 fitting theconvex outer part 2O of the hollow boss 20, and located in the webaround the convex projection 22 are holes 22, through which the pillarsor posts 21 project. 23 is a securingbolt having a head 23 located inthe central recess of the inner member of the hinge-joint and seatingagainst a'washer 24 in the hollow boss 20. The bolt has a non-circularneck 23, fitting in the non-circular bolt-hole 22 of the sleeve, and hasits screw-threaded end 23 projecting beyond the sleeve to receive a nut25. For the purpose of connecting the parts together yieldingly Iprovide a triangular plate-spring 26, through which the threaded end ofthe bolt extends and on which the nut 25 is adapted to hear. The cornersof the plate-spring are inturned to provide lips 26, which seat in thecup-shaped recesses 21 of the pillars or posts, so that the tension ofplate-spring can be regulated by adjusting the nut, and thus tighten orloosen the hingejoint.

In each form of hinge-joint illustrated it will be seen that I employ inconnection therewith a series of radial ball grooves or races on onemember and a series of transverse ball grooves or races on the othermember, the ball grooves or races being so arranged with relation toeach other that in dropping or raising the seat one series ofball-groovcs crosses the other series of ball-grooves obliquely orshear-wise, so that the antifriction-balls move back and forth in theradial grooves while traveling the length of the transverse grooves, andwhen they reach the end inclines of the transverse grooves they passpartly out of the latter and force the members of the hinge-joint apartslightly, thus compressing the plate-spring, which results in producinga cushioning eitect in rais ing and lowering the seat.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as'newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support, a seat-bracket,innerand outer hinge members, one hinge member having radialball-grooves, the other hinge member having transverse ball-grooves,antifriction-balls located at the crossing of the ball-grooves and thecrossing of the ball-grooves and limiting.

the movemcntot' the seat-bracket, and adapted to interlock, and travelin the ball-grooves of both hinge members to provide anantifriction-bearing between the meeting faces thereof, and means forsecuring the parts of the hinge-joint together.

3. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support, a seat-bracket, innerand outer hinge members, one hinge member having radial ball-grooves,the other hinge member having transverse ball-grooves, inclines leadingto the bearing-faces at the ends of the ballgrooves, antitrietion-ballslocated at the crossing of the ball-grooves, and adapted to interlock,and travel in, the ball-grooves of both hinge members, and yieldingmeans for securing the parts of the hinge-joint together.

4. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support, a seat-bracket, innerand outer hinge members having radial and transverse ballgroovesrespectively, inclines leading to the bearing-faces at the endsof theball-grooves, antifriction-balls located at the crossing of theball-grooves and adapted to interlock, and travel in, the ball-groovesof both hinge members and yielding means for securing the parts of thehinge-joint'together.

5. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support, aseat-bracket, innerand outer hinge members, one hinged member having radial ball-grooves,the other hinge member having transverse ball-grooves, inclines leadingto the bearing-faces at the ends of the ballgrooves, antifriction-ballslocated at the crossing of the ball-grooves and adapted to interlock,and travel in, the ball-grooves of both hinge members and means forsecuring the parts of the hinge-joint yieldingly together.

6. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support, a seat-bracket, innerand outer hinge members, one hinge member having radial ball-grooves,the other hinge member having transverse ball-grooves provided withinclines leading to the bearing-face at the ends of the ball-grooves,antifriction-balls located at the crossing of the ball-grooves andadapted to interlock, and travel in, the ball-grooves of both hingemembers and means for securing the parts of the hinge-joint yieldinglytogether.

7. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support, a seat-bracket, innerand outer hinge members, one hinge member having radial ball-grooves,the other hinge member having transverse ballgrooves provided withinturned ends, inclines'leading to the bearingfaces at the ends of theball-grooves, antifriction-balls located at the crossing of theball-grooves and adapted to interlock, and travel in, the ball-groovesof both hinge members and yielding means for securing the parts of thehinge-joint together.

8. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support, aseat-bracket, innerand outerhinge members one hinge member having threeradialball-grooves,the other hinge member having three transverseball-grooves arranged in approximately triangular form, inclines leadingto the bea ring-faces at the ends of the ballgrooves,antifrietion-ballslocated at the crossing of the ball-grooves, and adapted to interlock,and travel in, the ball-grooves of both hinge members, and yieldingmeans for securing the parts of the hinge-joint together.

9. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support having a boss, aseat-bracket having a housing provided with a web'formed with a thimblefitting around the boss, a member of the hinge-joint, having radialball-grooves and located within the housing,the other member of thehinge-joint having transverse grooves and located Within the housing,inclines leading to the bearing-faces at the ends of the ball-grooves,antitriction-balls located at the crossing of the ball-grooves, andyielding means for securing the parts of the hingejoint together.

10. A hinge-joint for seating, comprising a support having a stop-lug arecessed lug, and a boss, a seat-bracket having a web provided with asegmental opening receiving the stoplug, and a thimble fitting aroundthe boss, a member of the hinge-joint having radial ballgrooves andsecured to the seat-bracket, the other member of the hinge-joint havingtransverse ball-grooves and a radial arm provided with a hook engagingwith the recessed lug, inclines leading to the bearing-faces at the endsof the ball-grooves, an'tifriction-balls located at the crossing of theball-grooves, and yielding means for securing the parts of thehinge-joint together.

11. A hinge-joint for seating comprising a support having a boss, and arecessed lug, a seat-bracket having a housing formed with an annularshoulder having a retaining-lug, and a web formed with a thimble fittingaround the boss, a movable member of the hinge-joint having a peripheralrecess receiving the retaining-'lug,-and radial ball-grooves, the otherfixed member of the hinge-joint having transverse ball-grooves, inclinesleading to the bearing-faces at the ends of the ballgrooves, and aradial arm provided with a hook engaging the recessed lug,antifrictionballs located at the crossing of the ballgrooves, and meansfor securing the parts yieldingly together.

FINLEY S. BROOKE.

W'itnesses:

J. GERTRUDE Woons, J. O. BROOKE.

